This post contains affiliate links marked #

From 2017 the British government allows you to make a £1000 a year without having to declare it for tax purposes.  If you have a couple of hours a week to spare it is fairly easy to earn some extra money online.

A lot of companies like to conduct market research by getting people to fill in surveys or conducting focus groups. This can be anything from watching adverts to see if you have understood the message, to asking questions to find out how you shop.

Like many people, I began my online money making by filling in these surveys.  

I would be the first to admit that spending 20 minutes filling in a survey for 50 pence is working well below the minimum wage however if you are time rich and money poor it is worth considering these sites as a way to earn some extra money for a holiday or special treat.  Many sites also offer vouchers which can be saved for Christmas or birthday presents.   Quite a few sites also let you donate money to charity.

I like sites that let me cash out at a low payment threshold and are easy to use.   Another important consideration is whether the site uses the demographic information you provide to choose suitable surveys to match your profile.   I  prefer using British sites as I think they are less likely to disqualify you from surveys. Sometimes filling in surveys can lead to other opportunities. This year I was invited to a focus group to discuss a well-known science magazine for which I was paid £30.00 after filling in a survey and  I was also asked to keep a spending diary after another survey on a different site for which I received £15.00.

There are several ways that you can increase your chance of being selected for a study or focus group.   you need to keep your profile up to date. It is worth thinking about your answers and be careful to spot attention checking questions.

My favourite site which does have a £50.00 minimum cash out is

populus live.  It pays about £1.00 for five minutes and it took me about ten months to earn £50.00 which unusually was paid by cheque. I have recently answered a lot of political questions in the run-up to the general election. (update they now have a BACS option).

Prolific is another site that pays well and has interesting surveys. So far I have earned over £500.00 from this site which I wrote more about here.

Some other reliable sites.

Branded Surveys. #

This site is American but seems to have plenty of surveys.  You start as a bronze member and can then pass through the ranks to become a silver or gold member which gives you a chance to get higher-paying surveys and more points in the daily poll.    Be sure to do the daily poll to get at least 5 extra points a day.  You also receive a bonus if you are disqualified from a survey.

Branded surveys.

Maximiles #

This site offers gift cards or gifts. My grandson likes the lego sets but there are also other gifts such as toiletries or wine. You can earn points for online shopping, clicking through E.mails or playing games.

Maximiles

QMEE #

QMee

we both get 50p if you use my link.   If you install the QMee app you will also earn a few pence for searches.  This site lets you cash out any amount to Paypal so it is worth giving it a try especially if you want to start earning money today.

Yougov #

This site is a very slow but reliable earner.  The minimum cash out is £50.00.  Surveys are by email invitation only and once you are invited to participate in a survey you can usually complete it.  They are generally short and work well and are often on political or current topics.

YouGov

I would like to know other people’s favourites in the comments.  I know Pinecone is highly recommended but I have been unable to get on the panel.

Focus groups

Several sites also recruit for focus groups or online communities. Because of Covid 19 most of this work is being done remotely. You can be curled up in your dressing gown on your sofa with a cup of coffee.

Reliable focus group recruitment sites

Angelfish

people for research

Does this sound too good to be true?

Most projects are genuine but there is always the risk of fraud. Sometimes companies are trying to get hold of your details for sales purposes.

It is normal to ask for demographic information such as age, gender, employment status or interests but a form asking for bank details should ring 

alarm bells. It might sound odd to research a market research company but its worth checking with sites like trust pilot if you are uncertain.

Other points to consider:

Are the incentives appropriate?

Can you find out what will happen to your personal data?

A genuine company won’t sell you anything or offer you incentives to buy the product you are discussing. You should have the right to withdraw at any time.

Product testing at home

Sometimes you may be sent products to test in your own home and asked a series of questions about them. Opportunities to participate are rarer than other types of research but it can be fun and rewarding.

You can sometimes get involved if you seek out brands you like and see if they have their own research panel. Brands like Amazon, Tesco and Johnson and Johnson conduct this type of research. You should always receive the product free of charge in exchange for your honest opinion.

Here is a link to a research study that recruited participants aged over 65 to talk about their grocery shopping so you can see what might be involved.

Family research

Did you know that as well as taking part in research on your own you can often take part with members of your family. You may be able to help your children or grandchildren earn some pocket money or vouchers. Tasks might include testing a family friendly website, visiting a family attraction or theme park or going on a family shopping trip. One company that offers family research opportunities is Angelfish